Then the King's self spake: "Nay, nothing hath he done to us unto this day Save lovingkindness and honour: let him therefore live, I say. What boots it that I should harbour hatred of this good knight? Loyally aye hath he helped us, and hath had therein his delight." Then the Knight of Metz, Lord Ortwein, made answer passion-hot: "Though passing-great be his prowess, it shall verily help him not: I will wreak on him deadliest vengeance, so my Lord will but suffer me." So the heroes imagined mischief against him causelessly. Yet further went none with the matter, save that Hagen ever and aye In season and out of season, still unto Gunther would say: "If but Siegfried live no longer, lordships many shall come Under thine hand." The spirit of the King was wrapped in gloom. But awhile the matter rested. Men jousted even as before: Strong spear-shafts many they shivered from afront of the minster-door Up the broad green space to the palace, escorting Siegfried's wife. But of Gunther's liegemen were many that lowered on the joyous strife. Spake the King: "Put away for ever the murderous hate ye nurse. He was born to be honour and profit to us, and nowise a curse; Yea also, so battle-resistless is the marvellous hero's hand, That, if aught he divined of your purpose, before him should no man stand." "That shall he never," said Hagen. "Beware thou reveal it not! With secrecy so deadly will I handle the matter, I wot, That to him shall the weeping of Brunhild be Ruin's baleful breath. Evermore unto him shall Hagen be Hate and the Shadow of Death!" {P. 119} But spake unto him King Gunther: "How then may ye compass the deed?" Thereunto answered Hagen: "Hearken to this my rede: There shall ride into this land heralds, as it were from a land afar, Men known unto none in thy city, denouncing against us war. Then say thou in these guests' presence: 'Lo, I must forth to the fight With all my warrior vassals'--then is thy goal in sight. He will offer himself for thine helping: thereby shall he spill his life, If I win but his woundless secret from the fearless hero's wife." Alas and alas! and he hearkened unto Hagen's evil wile; And these twain fell to devising of treachery and guile-- These two knights chivalrous-nurtured!--ere any divined their intent. So through two women's wrangling to their death many heroes were sent. XV. How woven for Siegfried was the Net of Betrayal